Coupling device.



PATENTED OCT. 3,' 1905. J. W. HURST. COUPLING DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1.91.15.

Application led February 11,1905. Serial No. 245,291.

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HURsT, aciti- Zen of the United States,residing at Swiss, in the county of Gasconade and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling Devices,oi' which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to coupling devices, and more particularly to thatclass which are automatic in operation, one of the objects being toprovide a device of the character described that shall be inexpensive inconstruction and simple and eective in operation and whereby cars may becoupled or uncoupled without the necessity of the person passing betweenthe same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rotary coupler whichshall be especially adapted for coupling and uncoupling road-enginesused in hauling threshing machinery and the like.

Further objects and advantages of my invention, as well as thestructural features by means of which said objects are attained, will bemade clear by an examination of the specitication, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which the same referencenumeralsindicate corresponding portions throughout, and in which-- Figure l is atop plan view showing in dotted lines the jaw as the link passes intoits locked position. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section showing in dottedlines the tripping mechanism for the ratchet. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a detail topplan oi' the notched disk which engages with the coupling-link and holdssame in operative position.

l designates a iixed jaw member rigidly secured to the object to whichthe engine is to be coupled, and 2 a pivotally-mounted jaw member.

3 designates anotched disk rotatably mounted in the fixed jaw 1 andarranged to travel in a groovee in the jaw 2 and to engage with a leveror pawl pivotally mounted on the iixed jaw member l, as shown in Fig. 2,said lever or pawl being actuated by a helical spring 6 and secured tothe jaw 2, said helical spring serving the double purpose of holding thepawl in operative position and also holding the jaw 2 in close contactwiththe jaw l.

7 designates a rounded lug rigidly mounted on a rotatably-mounted stem,which stem is provided with a handle 9, rigidly mounted thereon and bywhich it is operated.

In operation the coupling-link passes into the open space between thejaws and comes in contact with the disk 3, having the notches l0, androtates said disk until one ot' said notches has passed between saidjaws and the pawl5 has fallen into another notch, as best shown in Fig.2, thus holding the disk against outward rotation and coupling theengine. A projection l1 on the jaw member 2 prevents the coupling-linkfrom coming in contact'with the spring 6. When it is desired touncouple, the handle 9 is pushed around, as shown by the dotted lines inFig. 1. This throws into action the rounded lug 7, which engages withthe pawl 5 and pushes it out of its position in the notch in the disk,thus permitting the disk to rotate outward, releasing the link, andperforming the act of uncoupling.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an automatic coupler, a fixed jaw member, a pivotally-mountedspring-actuated jaw member, a ratchet-wheel mounted on the iixed jawmember, a pivotally-mounted spring-actuated pawl engaging with saidratchet-Wheel, and a pivotally-mounted lug arranged to throw the pawlout of operative position, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic coupler, a fixed jaw member, a pivotally-mountedspring-actuated jaw member, a ratchet-wheel mounted on the xed jawmember and traveling in a notch in the pivotally-mounted jaw member, apivotallymounted spring-actuated pawl engaging with said ratchet-wheel,and a pivotally-mounted lug arranged to throw the pawl out of operativeposition, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic coupler, a fixed jaw member, a pivotally-mountedspring-actuated jaw member, a ratchet-wh eel mounted on the xed jawmember and traveling in a notch in the pivotally-mounted jaw ni lmber, apivotallymounted spring-actuated pawl engaging with said ratchet-wheel,a pivotally-mounted lug arranged to throw the pawl out of operativeposition, and a handle connected with said lug by which the same isactuated, substantially as described.

4. In a coupling device, a fixed jaw member, a pivotally-mountedspring-actuated jaw IOG member adapted to engage with the fixed jaw ahandle rigidly mounted on said stem by which IO member, a notched diskmounted on the fixed the same is rotated, substantially as described.jaw member and adapted to travel in e groove In testimony whereof Ihereunto aiiix my in the pivotaily-mounted jaw member, a pivsignature inpresence of two Witnesses. otaiiy-mounted spring-actuated paWl adapted YT to engage with the notches in said disk, a ro- JOHN A HURSTtatably-mounted stem, a lug rigidly mounted Witnesses:

on said stem and adapted to engage with and LANG LANGENBERG, throw thepaWl out of operative position, and l HENRY C. HURST.

